Shark Blanket - Knit edition

Hi everyone, So I have to admit I have tried to learn to crochet but there is just something about the postion of holding the at working yarn that I can not get a great tension and I get frustrated and I have learned that my yarn work is now done with 2 needles :)

So needless to say I have come across many patterns that I love that are done in crochet and am getting better with invisioning my project in knitting lingo. Of course when the shark blanket appeared everyone need to have one but its crocheted.

 

Here goes my attempt at a knit version and I hope you enjoy.  This pattern is made for an average adult size.

Shark Knit Lapghan

Yarn
Bernat Blanket 2.5 - large skeins dark grey
Bernat Baby Blanket 1 - white
Loops and threads Impeccable - red
 
Needles
US size 13 Circular
US size 11 Circular

 
Body
Cast On 64 stiches 
Work in stockinette stitch for approximately 40 inches or when it reaches the knees or just below join work in the round.
First row in the round  - K3, KFB , repeat to end of row. This will increase 16 stitches. (total 80 stitches).
Knit 12 rows. (every row now knit because in the round)
Decrease row (K6, K2tog), repeat to end of row (70 stitches)
Knit 10 rows
Decrease row (K5, K2tog), repeat to end of row (60 stitches)
Knit 5 rows
Decrease row (K4, K2tog), repeat to end of row (50 stitches)
Knit 5 rows
Decrease row (K3, K2tog), repeat to end of row (40 stitches)
Knit 5 rows
Decrease row (K2, K2tog), repeat to end of row (30 stitches)
Knit 6 rows
Decrease row K2tog (K1, K2tog) Repeat parenthesis to end. (22 stitches)

Switch to US 11 Circular needles and Knit 3 rows and then time to start the tail.
 
Next Round - K17; place last 11 stitches worked on small stitch holder. First half of tail will be worked back and forth over remaining 11 stitches on needles (last 5 stitches of current round and first 6 stitches of next round).
Row 1 - (K1, kfb) 5 times, k1. 16 stitches.
Even-Numbered Rows -  P all stitches.
Row 3 - (K1, kfb) to end. (24 stitches)
Row 5 - K1, kfb, (k3, kfb) 5 times, k2. (30 stitches)
Row 7 - K1, kfb, (k3, kfb) to end of row (38 stitches)
Row 9 - 28 work in stockinette stitch
Row 29 - K1, k2tog, k to last 3 stitches, ssk, k1 (36 stitches)
Row 30 - P all stitches
Rows 31-38 - Work as for Rows 29-30 (28 stitches)
Row 39 - K1, K2tog x2, knit to last 5 stitches and do SSKx2 K1. (24stitches)
Row 40 - P all stitches
Row 41-48 - Work as for rows 39-40 (8 stitches)
Row 49 - K1, K2tog, K2, SSK, K1
Row 51 - K1 K2tog, SSK, K1
Row 53 - K1, K2tog, K1
Row 54 - K1, K2tog
Row - 55 Bind off.  Leave your self a long tail and fold this piece in half with outer edges together and seam together. This is one half of the tail.

Replace held stitches on needle and rejoin yarn with RS facing. Work Rows 1-55 as for first half of tail.

Once both halves of tail are complete I made it more of a fin by sewing down the middle of the two to join them together about 1/3 of the way.

 
Using US Circular needles size 11 and the white yarn, I picked up stitches along the open edges of the body one side at a time and simply did 5 rows of garter stitch to make the appearance of the belly.

Along the edges of the top I then used US Circular needles size 11 and the red yarn (doubled to get a chunky weight) and simply did a garter stitch for 4 rows.

 Teeth

Cast on 5 stitches with white yarn using US11 circular. 

Row 1: K1, yo, k2tog, yo, k2
Row 2 and every even row:  Knit
Row 3: K1, *yo, k2tog* repeat twice, yo, k1
Row 5: K1, *yo, k2tog* repeat twice, yo, k2
Row 7: K1, *yo, k2tog* repeat three times, yo, k1
Row 9 : Bind off 5, 1st on right needle, yo, k2tog, yo, k1 (5 stitches left on needle)
Row 10: Knit

Start over and repeat these ten rows until you reach your desired length then bind off and weave in the ends. Mine had 12 teeth in total.

Using White yarn I simply stitched the teeth along the edge of the red at the top of the blanket.

Fins

Top fin
US 11 Circular needles - and grey yarn.
Cast on 36
Knit 2 rows
Row 3 - K1, K2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, SSK, K1
Row 4  - Knit
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until you reach the tip and bind of last stitches.
Using grey yarn attach to middle of the blanket. 


Side Fins (make 2)
US 11 Circular needles - and grey yarn.
Cast on 18
Knit 2 rows
Row 3 - K1, K2tog, knit to last 3 stitches, SSK, K1
Row 4  - Knit
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 until you reach the tip and bind of last stitches.
Using grey yarn attach one to each side of the blanket.














Eyes

I used black and white felt and cut out circles and just tack stitched them on. Nothing too fancy. I couldn't get a nice duplicate stitch with the kind of yarn I was using.

Monster Pants

We got home after a whirlwind of a trip to my moms to help her do some new flooring back in April. 

 

I decided to try my had at some kids pants for my children. I have started out with my daughter to get a gauge for sizing and next work on a "boys" pair next.

 

These cute Monster pants have been fun.

First time working with Short rows - which turned out ok but need to work on the one side better, maybe pull it tighter to loose the little space left. I also had never made I-cord before which was fun and super easy. And next is my attempt to do duplicate stitches?!!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/monster-longies-monsterbukse

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Kariboberry/monster-longies-monsterbukse

 

Lets give it a whirl!

 

A little fun for me

SO I have been working n a project for my husbands family reunion coming up in August. It will be an item for each of his 9 siblings plus himself, so needless to say it has been taking up a lot of my knitting time to get this completed.  But I needed to take a break and do something a little fun, quirky and just plain silly.

I knew my kids would love this pattern so I grabbed some of my Knit Picks Worsted yarn that I ordered on a whim because I loved the colors and started  my first Fish Hat (Dead or Alive). And I say FIRST because I now need to make a second for my daughter!
http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter08/PATTfishy.php

Here's how mine turned out....

 

New things

So I have tried to stay busy this spring and I have realized I am not as fast a knitter as I would like to be.

 

I have projects in my head that seem to be popping up faster than I can finish the ones I am working on.

As of late I have done more washcloth kitchen sets that included a hanging towel, dishcloth and a scrubby. I also got a huge ball of camo colored yarn to work on more hand towels and hanging towels for my brother as I learned over the Easter holidays he loved the ones I gave him before.

So I think those will be my bedside ongoing project that I tinker away at when I get tired of bigger projects I work on.

I also had made a lovely shawl for a friend that she had pinned a link on Pinterest and of course it was a crochet pattern, So I did my best to try and replicate a knit pattern and came up with this beauty. I truly love it and probably will make a few more.

 

The construction was quite simple but for

 

some reason the PSSO patterns really

 

 slowed me up and it took longer than I

 

 thought.

 

I also might do a shorter version for us height

 

 challenged individuals.

 

 I felt it was a bit too big on my frame but looked

 

better on a taller person :)

The body of the shawl follows the is lovely lace pattern http://purlavenue.com/2014/02/rustic-ribbed-mesh-scarf.html

 

and for the construction I followed

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ridged-wrap

 

Can also see my Ravelry post for all links

http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Kariboberry/rustic-ribbed-mesh-scarf

Stamen Stripe Hanging Dishtowel

Hanging Dish Towels
 
I love this little pattern, it's fool proof and I love the size of it. I have also changed the main pattern (body) of the towel to have different looks to it. 

Using US 8 size needle
Handicrafter Cotton (approx 2 skeins)

Cast on 50 stitches.
Knit 2 rows.
Knit the pattern below to reach desired length. I like around 12 inches.

1) Knit
2) K2, Purl to the last two stitches, K2
3) Knit
4) K2, Purl to the last two stitches, K2
5) Knit
6) K3, *slip one stitch purlwise, K1, repeat from * to last two stitches, K2
7) Knit
8) K4, *slip one stitch purlwise, K1, repeat from * to last two stitches, K2

Then knit the pattern once from row 1 to row 3.
Knit 2 rows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Start decrease to make hanging handle. I like to change colors but you can continue in all the same yarn if you want.

1) K2 tog, knit to last two stitches, K2tog (13 sts)
2) Knit
3) K2tog, knit to last two stitches, K2tog. (11sts)
4) Knit
5) K2tog, K3, YO, K2tog, K2, K2tog. (9sts)
6) Knit
7) K2tog, knit to last two stitches, K2tog. (7sts)

Bind off.
Fold over and decide where you want a button, the YO is the buttonhole and sew on button.

 

 

Dishcloth Knit Swap

So I have been quietly a part of a Knit swap Group of Facebook but enjoying seeing everyone share around their compilations for scarves. Lately there was a suggestion to participate in a Dishcloth Knit Swap, For how ever many dishcloths you send out you will receive make. Pattern and color is your choice with the only exception for it to be a minimum of 7in square. So away I went. I have many colors of  Bernat Handicrafter Cotton blend yarn to picks for but wanted to use up my multi colored stuff first.

The patterns I chose to do were simply based on casting on roughly 36 stitches so that I had a 7 inch square but not much larger. My preferences is to not have a huge cloth at the end.























I started out with http://handmaidensheart.blogspot.ca/2010/03/scrubby-nubby-dishcloth.html as my first one. I decreased the cast on stitches to 36, using a US size 6 needle and I used a bright green Bernat Handicrafter Cotton. ( I lost the label so the exact name I don't know)

 

 

Second pattern is http://homespunliving.blogspot.ca/2010/06/aunt-may-dishcloth.html

The third dish cloth pattern I used is http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fabric-stitch-dishcloth

 

And the last one I did (which is my favorite)

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stockinette-triangle-dishcloth-012

 

 

 

 

 

Some Beer Drinking Mittens Eh!

So I find that the things that I may think are a little corny are the things sometimes that people love! LOL Maybe I need to re think my sense of humor ;)

Someone share a link to these cute mittens and thought, why not. It was for the most part easy enough. I needed to use up some of my Knit Picks Worsted Stash in these cute Turquoises and didn't have any better ideas to use it up on. So away I went.

The pattern I used is  from Ravelry : http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cupholder-mitten
It is super easy and I had never "Grafted" stitches before so good old You tube helped me out on that one. 

In the end my Facebook news feed filled up with great feedback and requests for more mitts.

Happy drinking, may it be a palm bay, cold beer, or Tim Horton's coffee!